Saturday, January 3, 2009

Making a beginner's mistake

Well. No question about it - it won't be the Garterlac Scarf, for sure. This thing puts the 'ug' in ugly. I think I know why, too. The yarn is much sturdier and thicker than the yarn I used for the first Garterlac scarf, so I had to go up at least 2 needle sizes. I also had to spin and ply it quite tightly as the fibers were short and yet I was (stupidly) spinning them worsted. That's the beginner's mistake I mentioned in the title. Yup. Why I didn't think to card the roving and go woolen is beyond me. Yes, I'm stupid - so sue me.

When I tried to use the original sz 6, the fabric was so tight that the yarn had no room to 'breathe'. The silk ended up making the yarn feel like soft, crackly paper - yuck! It felt worse than the nastiest 70's acrylic you could find. We all fingered it (at the shop) and agreed: bigger needles! I switched to a sz 7 - same thing, just not quite as bad.

Got home and pulled out the big guns: my Kollage 8's. Ahhhhh! The poor yarn breathed a sigh of relief as it found room for itself to look and feel like actual yarn. In fact, it feels wonderful knitted at this gauge. Unfortunately, the stitches are so large, that the whole ensemble just looks...odd.

Beginning from the outer end of the ball (without frogging the Garterlac so ya'll could judge for yourselves), I cast on for a narrowish Morning Surf Scarf. Glory. I think that's what it wanted to be. Granted, both pieces could look better, but they're not blocked yet - give 'em a break! So tell me what you think of this one:











Even though a few more voted for the 'lac than the Surf...we're going with the Surf, unless someone has an even better idea.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that the colour play in the morning surf are really amazing and it looks nice and scrunchyscrumptuous.

It also looks like a morning surf, the beachy sand colours with the subtle blue hues of the sea playing out in a fantastic feast for the eyes. Enjoy knitting!

Delighted Hands said...

I think this is what is meant by letting the yarn tell you what it needs........! Yes, the morning surf all the way!

Fairy Spun Fibers said...

Hey, Eru - I'm glad you think it really DOES look like the morning surf - cuz that's what it's supposed to look like. I am so glad I decided to frog the Garterlac scarf!

Fairy Spun Fibers said...

Hello again, Delighted,

I totally agree. It HAD to be the Morning Surf. I'm not sure the yarn was "telling" me, so much as it was YELLING at me :-)

Dori Ann said...

The good thing is you listened :)))

Anonymous said...

I agree, the surf definitely looks better and the color changes in it are beautiful.

Maybe some other yarn would like to be another Garterlac scarf. :)

Fairy Spun Fibers said...

Hi, Jennie! I'm really pleased with the way it turned out, too. I'm done, except for the special fringe I'm doing. It's blocking right now - trying to keep the dogs from walking over it. Sheesh!

Fairy Spun Fibers said...

Awk! I forgot to respond to you, Dori! LOL - yes, at least I "listened" to the yarn. More like I muttered in frustration over how it looked in the Garterlac. Wasn't that something? UGLY wasn't even the word for it!